Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta Lite (Printable)

Succulent shrimp in zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce over angel hair pasta—a quick, vibrant dinner perfect for weeknights.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 8 oz angel hair pasta

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
07 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer; cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add lemon zest, juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a silky consistency.
07 - Return shrimp to the skillet, toss gently to combine, and heat through for 1 minute. Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • The light, bright flavors work for any season and never feel too heavy
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Reserving pasta water is the difference between a cohesive dish and pasta floating in buttery liquid
  • Shrimp continue cooking after you remove them from heat, so pull them when they're just barely done
  • Adding lemon juice at the end preserves its bright, fresh flavor rather than cooking it out
03 -
  • Buy shrimp that still have their shells if possible—peeling them yourself ensures the freshest flavor
  • Room temperature shrimp cook more evenly, so take them out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking
Go Back